March 10, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On March 2, 2006, the Department of Commerce published notice in the Federal Register of a negative final determination of the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy in connection with the subject five-year review on brass sheet and strip from France (71 FR 10651). Accordingly, pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1675(c)), the five-year review of the countervailing duty order concerning brass sheet and strip from France (investigation No. 701-TA-270 (Second Review)) is terminated.

Closed meeting of the Art Advisory Panel will be held in Washington, DC.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Notice 2006-30, Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicle Credit.

EPA is proposing to amend a significant new use rule (SNUR) under section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to include certain perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFAS) substances. EPA is proposing to amend the PFAS SNUR at 40 CFR 721.9582 by adding a new Table 3 containing the remaining PFAS chemicals on the TSCA Inventory that are not already regulated by the SNUR. This proposed rule would require manufacturers, including importers, to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing the manufacture or import of the PFAS chemicals listed in Table 3 of the regulatory text proposed herein for the significant new uses described in this document on or after April 10, 2006. EPA believes that this action is necessary because these chemical substances may be hazardous to human health and the environment. The required notice will provide EPA the opportunity to evaluate intended significant new uses and associated activities before they occur and, if necessary, to prohibit or limit those uses or activities.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2005-26-53; Amendment 39-14451, which applies to all Pacific Aerospace Corporation Ltd. (PAC) 750XL airplanes. AD 2005-26-53 currently requires you to insert text into the Limitations Section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) that reduces the maximum takeoff weight from 7,500 pounds to 7,125 pounds. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for New Zealand and the FAA's decision that the actions correct an unsafe condition. Consequently, this proposed AD would require you to remove rivets that have not been fully age hardened and replace them with bolts, washers, and nuts in specific locations where reduction in rivet strength affects overall structural capability. This proposed AD retains the actions of the previous AD until the rivets are replaced with the bolts, washers, and nuts. We are issuing this proposed AD so that wing ultimate load requirements are met. If wing ultimate load requirements are not met, wing failure could result with subsequent loss of control of the airplane.

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List a product and services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and to delete services previously furnished by such agencies. Comments Must be Received on or Before: April 9, 2006.

On February 4, 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued an order to ban immediately the import of all birds (Class: Aves) from specified Southeast Asian countries, subject to limited exemptions for returning pet birds of U.S. origin and certain processed bird-derived products. HHS/CDC took this step because birds from these countries potentially can infect humans with avian influenza (influenza A/[H5N1]). The February 4, 2004, order complemented a similar action taken at the same time by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). On March 10, 2004, HHS/CDC lifted the embargo of birds and bird products from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) because of the documented public-health and animal health measures taken by Hong Kong officials to prevent spread of the outbreak within the HKSAR, and the absence of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases in Hong Kong's domestic and wild bird populations. USDA/APHIS took a similar action. On September 28, 2004, HHS/CDC extended the embargo on birds and bird products to include Malaysia because of the documented cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 in poultry in Malaysia. On July 20, 2005, USDA/APHIS adopted as a final rule the interim rule that became effective on February 4, 2004, which amended its regulations to prohibit or restrict the importation of birds, poultry, and unprocessed birds and poultry products from regions that have reported the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry. (See 70 Federal Register 41608 [July 20, 2005].) As the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) have confirmed additional cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) , USDA/APHIS has added additional countries to its ban. On December 29, 2005, HHS/CDC added the Republic of Kazakhstan, Romania, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Turkey, and Ukraine to its current embargo because of documented cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 in poultry in those countries. Currently, HHS/CDC and USDA/APHIS bans cover birds and bird products from Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, the People's Republic of China, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam. On February 7, 2006, the OIE confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry in Nigeria. At this time, HHS/CDC is adding Nigeria to its current embargo. This action is effective on February 8, 2006, and will remain in effect until further notice.

On February 4, 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued an order to ban immediately the import of all birds (Class: Aves) from specified Southeast Asian countries, subject to limited exemptions for returning pet birds of U.S. origin and certain processed bird-derived products. HHS/CDC took this step because birds from these countries potentially can infect humans with avian influenza (influenza A/ [H5N1]). The February 4, 2004, order complemented a similar action taken at the same time by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). On March 10, 2004, HHS/CDC lifted the embargo of birds and bird products from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) because of the documented public-health and animal health measures taken by Hong Kong officials to prevent spread of the outbreak within the HKSAR, and the absence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 cases in Hong Kong's domestic and wild bird populations. USDA/APHIS took a similar action. On September 28, 2004, HHS/CDC extended the embargo on birds and bird products to include Malaysia because of the documented cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 in poultry in Malaysia. On July 20, 2005, USDA/APHIS adopted as a final rule the interim rule that became effective on February 4, 2004, which amended its regulations to prohibit or restrict the importation of birds, poultry, and unprocessed birds and poultry products from regions that have reported the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry. (See 70 Federal Register 41608 [July 20, 2005].) As the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) have confirmed additional cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), USDA/APHIS has added additional countries to its ban. On December 29, 2005, HHS/CDC added the Republic of Kazakhstan, Romania, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Turkey, and Ukraine to its current embargo because of documented cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry in those countries. On February 8, 2006, HHS/CDC added Nigeria to its embargo because of the documentation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry. On February 22, 2006, HHS/ CDC added India to its embargo because of documentation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry. On February 27, 2006, HHS/ CDC added Egypt to its embargo because of the documentation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry. Currently, HHS/CDC and USDA/APHIS bans cover birds and bird products from Cambodia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Nigeria, the People's Republic of China, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam. On February 28, 2006, OIE reported confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry in Niger. USDA added Niger to their ban on March 1, 2006. At this time, HHS/CDC is adding Niger to its current embargo. This action is effective on March 2, 2006, and will remain in effect until further notice.

On February 4, 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued an order to ban immediately the import of all birds (Class: Aves) from specified Southeast Asian countries, subject to limited exemptions for returning pet birds of U.S. origin and certain processed bird-derived products. HHS/CDC took this step because birds from these countries potentially can infect humans with avian influenza (influenza A/[H5N1]). The February 4, 2004, order complemented a similar action taken at the same time by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). On March 10, 2004, HHS/CDC lifted the embargo of birds and bird products from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) because of the documented public-health and animal health measures taken by Hong Kong officials to prevent spread of the outbreak within the HKSAR, and the absence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 cases in Hong Kong's domestic and wild bird populations. USDA/APHIS took a similar action. On September 28, 2004, HHS/CDC extended the embargo on birds and bird products to include Malaysia because of the documented cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 in poultry in Malaysia. On July 20, 2005, USDA/APHIS adopted as a final rule the interim rule that became effective on February 4, 2004, which amended its regulations to prohibit or restrict the importation of birds, poultry, and unprocessed birds and poultry products from regions that have reported the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry. (See 70 Federal Register 41608 [July 20, 2005].) As the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) have confirmed additional cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), USDA/APHIS has added additional countries to its ban. On December 29, 2005, HHS/CDC added the Republic of Kazakhstan, Romania, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Turkey, and Ukraine to its current embargo because of documented cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry in those countries. On February 8, 2006, HHS/CDC added Nigeria to its embargo because of the documentation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in poultry. Currently, HHS/CDC and USDA/APHIS bans cover birds and bird products from Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Nigeria, the People's Republic of China, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam. On February 18, 2006, OIE reported confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in poultry in India. USDA added India to their ban on February 21, 2006. At this time, HHS/CDC is adding India to its current embargo. This action is effective on February 22, 2006, and will remain in effect until further notice.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Corps) intends to adopt the FEIS completed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) for purposes of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.